Dr. Hamad Abdullah Al-Manae, Minister of Health, on Tuesday stressed the importance of reaching an international agreement regulating organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Dr. Al-Manae said the statutory provisions of the agreement should address variety of issues such as legal and moral aspects involved in organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Al-Manae who is the Executive Chairman of the Arab Health Ministers also underscored efforts exerted by the Arab health ministries to improve the quality of the health services especially in the area of primary health care and family medicine. Addressing WHO General Assembly meeting in Geneva, the minister referred to bird flu epidemic describing the spread of this fatal disease as a great challenge facing the entire humanity. He said collective international efforts have yielded positive results in checking the menace. Dr Al-Manae also cautioned about the negative consequences of global warning on ecology. He also touched on other issues including AIDS pointing that combating of the disease necessitates launching of intense awareness campaigns across the globe. - Okaz __
